The ONF is excited to recognize and promote the contributions of both members (Innovators) and nonmembers (Collaborators). Existing ONF Innovator Members may upgrade their membership by being recognized as an active collaborator on one or more ONF projects. Collaborating Innovators are both Innovator members (paying ONF membership dues) as well as active community members contributing personnel and/or resources (minimum of 1 FTE or equivalent). Adding collaborator recognition to an Innovator membership does not require any additional financial contribution beyond what is required for Innovator membership. Collaborators are active community members who are contributing personnel and/or resources to one or more ONF projects, but are not paying for membership and thus not receiving the additional member benefits. These companies and individuals can apply for Collaborator recognition, which if approved would result in recognition as a Collaborator on the relevant project page.

Collaboration Benefits

What benefits does collaboration with the ONF generate?

Strategic value - Be more closely involved than open source email lists allow with those who are leading the SDN and NFV revolution. Gain a better understanding of where SDN and NFV initiatives are heading, and where the leading service providers and their vendors are going.

Business value - Open up new business opportunities for your company by being involved in the transition to SDN and NFV - align your company with the leaders in this space - get involved in new business initiatives.

Marketing value - Have your logo placed on project-specific and ONF web sites along with the logos of the leaders of the SDN and NFV revolution and be recognized as an official contributor of the ONF community.

Technical value - Learn from the experts in SDN and NFV. Work closely with the architects and visionaries of this revolution. Understand the possibilities for transforming your organization early as a result of advanced knowledge.

Collaboration Recognition Requirements

What is required of a collaboration? The main requirement is to bring value to one or more ONF Projects and the related community. How can you do that?

By dedicating resources to help with a project (CORD, ONOS, SEBA, VOLTHA, STRATUM, P4, etc.) – in development, testing, documentation, or any number of other areas.

By integrating projects with your products. Integrate ONF projects into your products and help these projects become the platform of choice for service delivery.

By deploying ONF projects in your network.

By contributing and maintaining source code on behalf of ONF projects.

Collaboration Recognition Process

Whether you are an Innovator aiming to become a Collaborating Innovator or an active community member shooting for Collaborator status, the process is fairly straightforward. We want to know what you want to do, how you plan to do it, and when it will be done.

Align Contributions with a Collaborative Proposal

You may seek alignment early on to ensure the work you are contemplating is aligned and will grant you collaborator status. This early alignment saves time for everyone involved and increases the chances that contributions will be beneficial for the project.

When ready, send your proposal to collaborator@opennetworking.org using subject format "COLLABORATION PROPOSAL from -" and add your company name. The relevant technical steering team will review the proposal and provide an initial determination. That determination will indicate the level of interest and alignment, and will probably include a number of questions. It may also include a request for a meeting to further discuss the proposal.

Once the appropriate project TST signs off on the proposal, members of the ONF will be happy to help get you onboarded into the project and assist if you have any questions about the tools and processes that you should be using to collaborate. You'll be upgraded to Collaborating Innovator (if a current member) or Collaborator (current nonmember), your logo will be put onto the ONF website and appropriate project website and added to standard presentation templates.

Maintaining Status

Your contributions will be monitored and reviewed by the project TST periodically. If you choose to complete your work in the project or stop contributing for a significant amount of time, the TST may remove Collaboration recognition.

By becoming a collaborator, you are opting-in to receive occasional emails from ONF about relevant project news and topics. You may choose to opt-out of these communications.